Apple is now manufacturing the iPhone 13 in India through supply-chain partner Foxconn following the phone’s launch last September.
The move will allow the Cupertino company to save on customs and import taxes that it otherwise has to pay for importing and selling the phones in the country.
Foxconn starts manufacturing iPhone 13 in India
The phone is being manufactured by Apple’s partner Foxconn at a factory near Chennai. The production is limited to regular iPhone 13 models and not the Pro series.
Apple issued the following statement to Livemint on starting iPhone 13 production in India: “We are excited to begin making iPhone 13 — with its beautiful design, advanced camera systems for stunning photos and videos, and the incredible performance of the A15 Bionic chip — right here in India for our local customers,”
iPhone 13 production was scheduled to start in January
The production was initially slated to begin in January this year. However, the plans got delayed after Apple put the factory on probation following protests by workers about poor working conditions and food poisoning.
The Cupertino company has never assembled its more expensive and capable pro iPhones in the country. This is also why the lineup is exorbitantly more expensive in India, as they attract a lot of additional taxes.
Apple first started manufacturing the iPhone SE in India in 2017. Since then, it has expanded its operations to assemble the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12. The factories mainly cater to local demand, with a small percentage of units also exported to other nearby markets. Apple has been diversifying its supply chain and moving the production of iPhones to markets like India and Vietnam.
While Apple holds a small chunk of the Indian smartphone market, it has doubled its growth in recent years and has become a dominant player in the premium segment.
